Zubiri says too early to tackle Senate presidency

May 20, 2010 8:12 pm

MANILA, May 20 - Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Thursday that it is too early to predict who will be the next president of the Senate following the recent national and local elections that changed the composition of the 24-member upper chamber.

Actually, in the Senate presidency, its a little to early at this point in time, Zubiri told the members of the Senate media during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado.

However, Zubiri sees a three-way battle for the Senate presidency with the election of former Senate president Franklin Drilon and the losing of former Senate president Manny Villar in the presidential race.

Right now, there are three major aggrupation. The group of Manny Villar, Drilon and the block of senator (Edgardo) Angara which is our changed block, Zubiri said.

He said their block will have incumbent Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid and himself.

Among the independents or undecided, he said, would be senators Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Tito Sotto and Serge Osmena. Other members of the Senate are detained senator Antonio Trillanes and Noynoy Aquino, the apparent next president. (PNA) LOR/jfm